June Birthstone: Pearl, Moonstone and Alexandrite, Explained

The June birthstone is actually three stones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. One grows inside a shellfish. One glows like moonlight on water. One changes colour when you walk from daylight into lamplight. June is one of the luckiest months for choice, and most people born in it only know about pearls.

Why June has three birthstones

Birthstone lists have shifted a lot over the centuries. In 1912, American jewellers agreed on one standard list so everyone sold the same stone for the same month. That list has been updated a few times since. Today people just call it the modern list.

June started with pearl and moonstone. Alexandrite was added later, giving the month three options. June isn't alone, either. August also has three, and December has at least three. You can see how the whole calendar lines up in our guide to every month's birthstone.

So if you were born in June, you get to pick: soft and classic, glowing and dreamy, or rare and a little bit magic.

Pearl: the classic June birthstone

Pearl is the only birthstone made by a living animal. An oyster or mussel coats a tiny irritant in layer after layer of nacre. Nacre is mostly calcium carbonate, the same stuff as seashells. That layering is what gives a good pearl its soft, deep shine.

Pearls are soft, at about 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. That's softer than a steel nail, so they scratch easily.

Natural pearls, formed with no help at all, are rare. Almost every pearl sold today is cultured. That means a person starts the process by placing a bead or a bit of tissue inside the mollusc, and the animal does the rest. Cultured pearls are still real pearls.

Pearls are traditionally linked with purity, calm and new beginnings, which is why they turn up at so many weddings. The story goes that ancient cultures thought they were drops of moonlight or tears that fell into the sea.

One honest note: we don't stock pearls at The Rock Space. If pearl is the one you want, a jeweller is your best bet. If you like the soft, milky look, keep reading, because June's second stone is on our shelf.

Moonstone: the glowing June birthstone

Moonstone is a feldspar, one of the most common mineral groups on Earth. What makes it special is the glow. Inside, thin layers of two kinds of feldspar are stacked together. Light bounces between those layers and spreads out into a soft blue-white sheen that seems to float across the stone.

That effect has a name: adularescence. It's the whole reason people fall for moonstone. Turn it slowly under a light and the glow slides around like moonlight on a lake. GIA's moonstone guide has the full gem-nerd version if you want it.

Moonstone sits around 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. It also has a natural tendency to split along flat planes, so a hard knock can chip it.

Rainbow moonstone, explained

The milky white stone with flashes of blue and rainbow colour is sold as "rainbow moonstone". Technically, it's a white form of labradorite, a close cousin in the feldspar family. It's a real natural stone, and the name is a long-standing trade name.

What moonstone is traditionally linked with

Moonstone has been tied to the moon for about as long as people have had words for it. People use it as a reminder to slow down, trust their gut and go with the flow. It's often linked with the sacral and crown chakras. A lot of folks keep one by the bed as part of a wind-down routine.

Alexandrite: the colour-changing June birthstone

Alexandrite is the show-off of the three. In daylight it looks green or blue-green. Under warm indoor light it turns red or purple. Gem lovers sometimes describe it as "emerald by day, ruby by night".

It's a rare variety of a mineral called chrysoberyl. The colour change comes from tiny amounts of chromium, which absorb light in a way that depends on the light source. It's hard, at about 8.5 on the Mohs scale, so it wears well.

Alexandrite was found in Russia's Ural Mountains in the 1830s and named after the future Tsar Alexander II. The story goes that it was found around his birthday, and its red and green matched the old Russian imperial colours.

Natural alexandrite with a strong colour change is one of the rarest birthstones around. Most affordable "alexandrite" jewellery is lab-grown, or it's a colour-change stone made from a different material. We don't carry alexandrite at The Rock Space.

June zodiac signs and their stones

June is split between two signs:

• Gemini runs until about June 20. Gemini is the curious, chatty air sign, and agate and citrine are common picks.
• Cancer season starts around June 21. The sign is ruled by the moon in astrology, so moonstone is a classic pick. See the Cancer zodiac collection.

Not sure where your birthday lands, or curious about your moon and rising signs too? Our free natal chart works it out from your birth time and place.

Is my moonstone real?

Moonstone has one common look-alike: opalite. Opalite is man-made glass with a milky blue glow. It's pretty, but it isn't moonstone. Here's how to tell them apart:

• The glow moves. In real moonstone, the sheen shifts and floats as you tilt the stone. Opalite glows more evenly all over.
• Look inside. Natural moonstone usually has small cracks, lines or cloudy spots. Opalite is often perfectly clear, sometimes with round bubbles.
• Check the backlight. Opalite often looks orange or amber when held up to a light. Moonstone doesn't.

At The Rock Space, treated, dyed and man-made stones are labelled as such, so opalite is sold as opalite.

Caring for June birthstones

• Pearls go on last and come off first. Perfume, hairspray and lotion dull them over time.
• Moonstone hates a hard knock. Take rings and bracelets off for the gym or heavy work.
• Rinse and wipe. Lukewarm water and a soft cloth are fine for moonstone. Skip harsh cleaners and ultrasonic machines.
• Store them apart. Harder stones like alexandrite can scratch pearls and moonstone in a jewellery box.

June birthstone gift ideas

A birthstone is an easy gift because the hard part, choosing, is already done. For June, moonstone is the one you'll find on our shelf:

• A bead bracelet. The moonstone bead bracelet is soft and easy to wear every day.
• Something delicate. The white moonstone bracelet uses tiny 2-3mm beads, great for stacking.
• Their own design. Pick the stones bead by bead in our Design Your Own Bracelet builder.

The full moonstone collection also has pendulums and carvings. Shopping for more birthdays? See the May birthstone and the July birthstone guides.

Know someone with a June birthday? Make them a free June birthstone card and send it by text or email.

Frequently asked questions

What is the actual birthstone for June?

June has three on the modern list: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. Pearl is the best known. None of them is more official than the others, so you can pick the one you like.

Why does June have three birthstones?

The 1912 jewellers' list gave June pearl and moonstone. Alexandrite was added in a later update, which gave June a hard-wearing, colour-changing third option.

Is June the only month with three birthstones?

No. August also has three on the modern list: peridot, spinel and sardonyx. December has at least three, including turquoise, zircon and tanzanite.

What is the birthday colour for June?

There's no official one. Most lists go with the creamy white of pearl and moonstone. Some add alexandrite's green and purple, since it shifts between the two.

Come say hi

Moonstone's glow is hard to judge on a screen, so it's worth seeing in person. Visit us at 396 Victoria Street North in Kitchener and tilt a few under the light before you choose. Or take the Crystal Quiz if you'd rather start online.